Kidney disease decisions — 2018

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection for diabetes and a separate rating for his history of chronic kidney stones due to voiding dysfunction or frequent UTIs.

The Veteran's appeal has been dismissed due to his death. The claims for service connection and increased special monthly compensation are moot as the Veteran passed away.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to potential exposure to herbicides at the U-Tapao Royal Thai Air Force Base in Thailand. The Veteran's entire Official Military Personnel File and unit histories must be obtained, along with verification of his alleged Agent Orange exposure.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection for various conditions, including urinary incontinence claimed as secondary to contaminated water at Camp Lejeune. Additional evidence and a medical advisory opinion are needed.

The Veteran's claims of service connection for a cervical spine disorder, acquired psychiatric disability, kidney disorder, and erectile dysfunction have been granted. The cervical spine disorder claim is denied due to lack of evidence linking it to active duty service or a service-connected condition.

The Veteran's claim for an earlier effective date for the grant of service connection for kidney cancer was denied as there is no basis to award such a date. The November 2013 rating decision denying service connection for kidney cancer became final, and the January 18, 2017 grant of service connection based on Camp Lejeune exposure is prior to any effective date under the liberalizing law.

The Board denied service connection for left and right shoulder disorders, left and right thumb disorders, and a neck disorder, to include as due to exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's current diagnoses of arthritis were not related to his military service.

The Board denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for sleep apnea and kidney disorder. The decision on sleep apnea was based on a lack of evidence linking it to service, while the kidney disorder claim was denied as new evidence did not establish a link to service.

The Board has remanded the case for further development and an examination to determine if the Veteran's chronic renal condition, including Gitelman's syndrome, is related to service. The claim of entitlement to reopen the hypokalemia claim remains pending.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims due to a lack of legal briefs submitted in January 2017 and August 2017. The Veteran’s attorney requested that both briefs be combined into one decision.

The Board has granted service connection for renal cell carcinoma and lumbar spine disability as secondary to renal cell carcinoma, both found to be related to exposure at Camp Lejeune. The decision is based on the presumption of exposure due to contaminated water.

The Veteran's claim for payment or reimbursement of medical expenses at Jefferson Regional Medical Center is being remanded due to the need for additional information and records. Specifically, VA needs to determine if prior authorization was issued for the private treatment and whether the Veteran received any preventive health services from VA before his emergency treatment.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for hypertension and kidney transplant residuals due to inadequate examinations, incomplete records, and need for verification of Reserve service dates. The AOJ must obtain all relevant medical records, verify Reserve service dates, and schedule appropriate VA examinations.

The rating reduction from 100 percent to 80 percent for chronic renal failure with hypertension, status-post kidney transplant with scar was proper due to sustained improvement in the Veteran's condition.

The Veteran's hypertension and kidney condition were denied service connection as they are not related to his military service.,A 10 percent rating was granted for hepatitis C prior to December 11, 2017, but the claim is being remanded due to ongoing issues.

The Veteran's cause of death, metastatic renal cell carcinoma, is found to be service-connected due to his exposure to herbicide agents during active duty in Vietnam.

The Board has decided to remand the Veteran's claims for service connection for depression/temper flair and TDIU due to insufficient evidence regarding the nature and etiology of his symptoms, particularly in relation to his service-connected kidney disability.

The Board has found that additional development is needed due to the Veteran's hypertension, which was not adequately addressed in previous VA examinations. The claim for a compensable evaluation for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and its residuals will be remanded for further action.

The Board finds that the Veteran's bladder cancer with metastasis to the kidney is at least in equipoise with his service connection claim, and thus grants service connection.

The Board has remanded the case due to insufficient medical opinion regarding whether the Veteran's exposure to herbicide agents in Vietnam reasonably caused or contributed to his renal cell carcinoma, which was the cause of death.